- Tauese Sunia
Infobox Governor
name= Tauese Sunia
caption=
order=41st
office= Governor of American Samoa
term_start= 1997
term_end=April 7 ,2003 1
lieutenant=Togiola Tulafono
predecessor=A.P. Lutali
successor=Togiola Tulafono
birth_date= birth date|1941|8|29|mf=y
birth_place=
death_date= death date and age|2003|3|26|1941|8|29|mf=y
death_place= enroute toHawaii
spouse=
profession=
party= Democrat
footnotes= 1.Togiola Tulafono was Acting Governor fromMarch 26 –April 7 ,2003 Tauese Tuailemafua Pita Fiti Sunia (
August 29 ,1941 -March 26 ,2003 ) was the governor ofAmerican Samoa from 1997 until his death. He died during his second term, onMarch 26 2003 , while on a flight toHawaii for medical treatment.He was a member of the Democratic Party.He won the election of 1996 in a close runoff withLealaifuaneva Peter Reid (51%-48%). The runoff was caused by a split in the Democratic party in American Samoa between Sunia and incumbent governorLutali Aifili Paulo Lauvao , who received third place, with no candidates gaining a majority. Sunia won another close victory against Reid in the 2000 election, 50%-48%, with no runoff.During Sunia's term of office a protest was issued against
Samoa , formerly named Western Samoa, for changing its official name to the shorter form. The official view inAmerican Samoa is that such a form detracts from theSamoan identity ofAmerican Samoa , and public officials and documents fromAmerican Samoa still refer toSamoa asWestern Samoa .Governor Tauese was well-renowned for his oratorical skill and astute memory as well as his charismatic personality. He is the son of Reverend Elder Fiti & Savali Sunia. Governor Tauese is also the nephew of former Prime Minister of Samoa, Tofilau Eti Alesana, brother of current Lt. Governor Ipulasi Sunia & former Congressional Representative Fofo Sunia and cousin of Rep. Eni Hunkin. He was married to the former Fagaoalii Satele Sunia of Vailoa, American Samoa.
External links
* [http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2003/03/28/american-samoa-mourns-death-of-governor-tauese-sunia Obituary]
* [http://www.doi.gov/oia/Islandpages/inmemorium.htm Office of Insular Affairs obituary]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.